An Elegant Purification Pavilion of 1934
The Nishinomiya Shrine Temizusha (西宮神社手水舎) is a timber purification pavilion built in 1934 at Nishinomiya Shrine in Shakecho, Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture, which in 2025 was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs records a single-storey timber structure with a copper roof and an area of 13 square metres, registered as a model of design.
The Agency places it on the east side of the approach, in the middle of the grounds.
Structure
According to the Agency, it is gabled and roofed in copper. At each corner, round and octagonal posts are bundled together on a stone base, tied by head beams, with bearing blocks and bracket arms carrying the beams.
The frog-leg struts between the brackets revive a medieval style. A water basin stands inside, and the pavilion is open on all four sides.
What to Look For
The Agency praises its gracefully curved eaves and calls it an imposing, finely designed pavilion. The shrine says it was built of cypress with a copper roof for the periodic rebuilding of 1934, its posts set on stone bases in the refined manner of the time.
Notice the bundled corner posts and the medieval-style struts.
Visiting
The temizusha stands on the approach and can be used when visiting.
The shrine's history, the layout of the grounds, directions and opening hours are on the Nishinomiya Shrine group page.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Hyogo
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Nishinomiya Shrine Temizusha
- [ Himeji Castle & Kobe Night View Cruise ]
Q&A
- When was the Nishinomiya Shrine Temizusha built?
- In 1934, for the periodic rebuilding of the shrine.
- What is special about its posts?
- Round and octagonal posts bundled together on stone bases at each corner.
- What are the highlights?
- Gracefully curved eaves and medieval-style struts, according to the Agency.
- Where is the Temizusha?
- On the east side of the approach, in the middle of the grounds.
- How is 手水舎 read here?
- Temizusha, according to the shrine and the Agency.
Basic Information
| Name | Nishinomiya Shrine Temizusha (西宮神社手水舎) |
|---|---|
| Location | 11 Shakecho, Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (building) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2025/3/13 (Reiwa 7) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Single-storey timber, copper roof, area 13 square metres |
| Owner | Nishinomiya Shrine (religious corporation) |
| Public Access | Viewable within the grounds |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs Database: Nishinomiya Shrine Temizusha (Japanese)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00015344
- Nishinomiya Shrine: Precinct Guide (Japanese)
- https://nishinomiya-ebisu.com/guide/guide-2/
Last verified: 2026.09.28
